Prosecutor: 2 charged in deadly shooting of Edison gas station clerk

Two people are facing charges in connection with the deadly shooting of a Speedway Gas Station clerk in Edison, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Authorities say that Marcus Wright and Olya Quinnam, both 22 and of Beaufort, South Carolina, were arrested Thursday and charged in connection with the killing of 38-year-old John Bertram on Dec. 20.

Officials say that while Quinnam waited outside, Wright entered the Speedway Gas Station located at 789 Amboy Ave. around 4:15 a.m. and held up Bertram with a handgun. Bertram handed the register drawer to Wright, who then shot and killed the clerk, according to investigators.

The killing shocked the community and put other business owners on edge. Many other local businesses told News 12 New Jersey that they would no longer be 24-hour businesses, and would close up early due to the fear of being robbed.

Investigators previously said that they were looking into a possible connection between the shooting in Edison and a robbery at a convenience store in Suffolk County, Long Island.

Authorities did not say Thursday if Wright and Quinnam are wanted in connection with the Long Island robbery. But the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office did thank Suffolk County police in a news release issued Thursday.

Suffolk County police say that they are aware of the arrests and consider Wright and Quinnam to be persons of interest in the robbery on Long Island.

Wright was charged with murder and armed robbery, among other charges. Quinnam was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and hindering apprehension. Both are being held in South Carolina awaiting extradition to New Jersey.